Revitalizing Santa Clara’s Swimming Legacy

By Rick Rutter and Vikas Gupta

Feb 7, 2025

Santa Clara has long been a beacon of swimming excellence, producing Olympic champions and fostering a culture of aquatic achievement across the community. However, we’re at a crossroads—without significant investment in appropriate aquatic facilities, we risk losing a crucial part of our city’s identity and a vital resource for public health and safety.

Thanks to the passage of Measure I, Santa Clara voters have allocated $45 million toward a new International Swim Center (ISC), demonstrating strong public support for this essential project. Now, it is our responsibility to honor voter intent by developing an aquatic facility that meets community needs while remaining within budget. The good news? It is entirely possible.

Our vision for the swim center—featuring a shallow learn-to-swim pool, 50-meter competition pools, and deep-water diving well—will serve recreational swimmers, competitive athletes, and water safety programs alike. With careful planning and by learning from other successful aquatic projects, we can create a state-of-the-art swim center that upholds Santa Clara’s rich swimming legacy and delivers maximum impact for every dollar spent.

The Growing Need for Aquatic Facilities

Rising Drowning Rates and The Importance of Access

Swimming is not just a sport—it is a life-saving skill. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four. Further, according to a 2014 American Red Cross report, with no significant change found in a 2021 study, while 80 percent of Americans said they could swim, only 56 percent of them can perform all five basic skills needed to swim safely.

Alarmingly, drowning rates have increased in recent years, exacerbated by:

• The closure of public pools

• Financial barriers preventing many families from accessing lessons

• A lack of inclusive aquatic programs for underserved communities

Santa Clara’s new International Swim Center can be a direct response to this crisis. By providing a safe, accessible, and welcoming facility, we can ensure that every child, and adult, has the opportunity and inspiration to learn to swim—regardless of socioeconomic background or ability.

The Role of Learn-to-Swim Programs

Studies show that formal swimming lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% in young children. A shallow learn-to-swim pool at the ISC can offer:

• Affordable swim lessons for children and adults

• Drowning prevention programs for at-risk youth

• Rehabilitation and senior-friendly exercise programs

• Opportunities for adaptive aquatics for people with disabilities

By prioritizing these programs, we can save lives and promote water safety for all.

Honoring Santa Clara’s Swimming Legacy

Santa Clara has a rich history of producing world-class athletes, but beyond Olympic medals and international recognition, our aquatics programs have played a critical role in shaping generations of young people into disciplined, hardworking, and resilient individuals.

For decades, invaluable community assets in the form of Santa Clara Swim Club, Santa Clara Diving, and Santa Clara Artistic Swimming (formerly Santa Clara Aquamaids) have provided a foundation for youth development, teaching skills that extend far beyond the pool. Through structured training, competition, and teamwork, these programs instill life skills like goal setting, time management, dedication, resilience, and leadership. These programs positively influence thousands of young athletes, giving them the confidence, discipline, and skills needed to succeed—whether in sports, academics, or their future careers.

To continue this legacy, we must provide our young athletes with the facilities they need to thrive. A modern swim center will allow Santa Clara Swim Club, Santa Clara Diving, and Santa Clara Artistic Swimming to expand their programming, serve more youth, and continue to develop the next generation of strong, capable individuals.

Staying True to Voter Intent: Building Within Budget

In 2024, Santa Clara voters overwhelmingly passed Measure I, allocating $45 million to rebuild the International Swim Center. This demonstrates strong public support for restoring Santa Clara’s place as a world-class aquatics destination.

Some skeptics have questioned whether this budget is enough—but we know that it absolutely is. Other California cities have successfully built high-quality aquatic centers within similar or even smaller budgets.

Proven Success: Learning from Other Aquatic Centers

Here are two examples of successful projects to draw inspiration from.

Marguerite Aquatic Center – Mission Viejo, CA

• $11 million renovation transformed a 60 year old facility with a similar footprint into a premier competition and community swimming facility. It should be noted that this pool was originally inspired by the ISC and the adjoining street is called Via Santa Clara

• Hosts over 50 events a year including national competitions that drive economic activity.

• Prioritized essential features like competition pool, deep water and dive tower, updated filtration system, and spectator seating

Miwok Aquatic Center – College of Marin, CA

• $34 million for completely new construction of a shallow learn-to-swim pool, 50-meter competition pool, deep water pool and dive tower

• Includes multi-purpose community rooms

• Balances high-performance training and community fitness

These projects prove that we can develop a top-tier aquatic facility in Santa Clara while staying within the $45 million allocated by Measure I.

The Economic and Social Benefits of a New Swim Center

A modern International Swim Center isn’t just an investment in sports—it’s an investment in year-round public health, economic growth, and community engagement.

1. Public Health & Wellness: Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise, benefiting people of all ages and abilities. A new swim center will:

   1. Encourage lifelong fitness and recreation through a variety of uses such as lap swim, aquatic yoga, scuba lessons, floating obstacle courses, underwater sports, etc.

   2. Provide low-impact exercise for seniors & rehabilitation programs

   3. Combat rising obesity rates, diabetes, and heart disease

2. Job Creation & Local Economy Boost

   1. Creates jobs for lifeguards, instructors, coaches, and staff

   2. Generates revenue by hosting swim meets and diving competitions

   3. Increases business for hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, cafes, and other local shops

3. Community Engagement

   1. Public pools serve as gathering spaces where families and friends connect

   2. Provides programs for youth development through structured swim lessons and teams

   3. Ensures accessibility for lower-income and underserved communities

The Time to Act is Now

Santa Clara has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvest in its swimming legacy while addressing the urgent need for water safety education. Thanks to Measure I, we have the funding in place—now, we must honor voter intent and deliver the world-class aquatic center our community deserves.

By following the proven models of Marguerite and Miwok Aquatic Centers, we can build an exceptional swim center within our $45M budget. This is not just about maintaining a pool—it is about:

• Preserving our aquatic excellence and Olympic history

• Saving lives through drowning prevention

• Providing access and inspiration for all communities

• Ensuring future generations have a place to learn, train, and compete

The voters have spoken. The funding is secured. The vision is clear.

It’s time to make the Santa Clara International Swim Center a reality.

Hear and share our pitch from the January 14, 2025 Santa Clara City Council Meeting:

Rick Rutter is Vice President of Santa Clara Aquatics Foundation and President of the Santa Clara Dive Club

Vikas Gupta is President of Santa Clara Aquatics Foundation